· The first-ever rarities-and-hits box set from XTC is due next week, a 10-ton drop of pop genius that covers the band's history from 1978 to 1989. The four-CD set is loaded with goodies, with nearly 70 percent of the material being presented for the first time. Highlights include the home demos for "Dear God" and "Senses Working Overtime," a Mutt Lange-produced version of "This Is Pop," live rehearsal versions, and abandoned mixes of singles including "Life Begins at the Hop." XTC has always been a songwriter's favorite for its deft skill and psychedelic sugar-pop wonderment, and these demos provide a peek into these craftsmen's mojo. The box set, A Coat of Many Cupboards, comes bearing the Caroline imprint and serves to usher in the label's plan to reissue the band's first 10 albums, re-mastered and expanded. Look for these re-issues to duplicate the original LP cardboard packaging and to include bonus tracks on each disc - rare tracks not found in this collection.

· This Tuesday brings a new album from the enigmatic Howe Gelb and the rhythm section of Calexico Jones, highlighting their 10-year collaboration as Giant Sand. The new CD, Cover Magazine, is a 13-track collection of cover interpretations funneled through the mad desert bandleader and guest vocalists such as Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, and PJ Harvey. Material includes Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," Roger Miller's "King of the Road," X's "Johnny Hit & Run Pauline," Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand," Goldfrapp's "Human/Lovely Head," and Sonny Bono's "This Beat Goes On." The Thrill Jockey Records release is also available on limited-edition vinyl.

· The new Pan-American side project from Mark Nelson is a tingly, heartbeat-driven hover over digital lakes and slow-motion ambient ripples. Mixing petite house beats with hypnotic bleeps and blips, this feather-light journey drifts like light expanding in a morning window frame, peeping and crackling with warm static. The new album, The River Made No Noise, hits store shelves this Tuesday on the Kranky label and is the third side outing from the LaBradford founder.

· Also on line to slow down your pulse is this Tuesday's Classic Chillout collection on the Epic label. This new CD collects ambient hits from Tangerine Dream's erotic "Love on a Real Train" from the Risky Business soundtrack to current soothing selections such as Master Cylinder's "Jung at Heart," heard by zillions in the recent Volkswagen television campaign. Some interesting vocalist collaborations slip in, including The Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser with Craig Armstrong on "This Love," and Beth Orton fronting Strange Cargo on "She Cries Your Name." Other highlights include tracks from Moby, Dido, Eva Cassidy, Maxwell, and Jill Scott.

Television Alert:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Michelle Branch tonight and the husband-and-wife team of Aimee Mann & Michael Penn on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts N.E.R.D. tonight, Remy Zero on Thursday, Foo Fighters and Tenacious D on Friday, Midnight Oil on Monday, and the terrific Shannon McNally on Tuesday; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Puddle of Mudd this evening overnight, Jewel on Monday overnight, and The Roots on Tuesday overnight.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, March 26:

... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.

Andrew WK - I Get Wet (Island)

Marc Anthony - Mended (Columbia) featuring the single "I'll Stand by You Always" written by Bruce Springsteen

Baha Men - Move It Like This (S-Curve/Capitol)

Buffalo Daughter - I (Emperor Norton) featuring guests John McEntire of Tortoise and Naoko Yamanco of Shonen Knife

Capone - The Pain, Time, & Glory (Def Jam)

Caitlin Cary - While You Weren't Looking (Yep Roc) new from the Whiskeytown singer with guests Ryan Adams, Mitch Easter, and members of the Jayhawks and Superchunk

Beth Nielsen Chapman - Deeper Still (Artemis) with guest vocalists Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill, John Prine, and John Hiatt

Chinchilla - 2000 Years at War (Metal Blade)

Clockstoppers - original motion picture soundtrack (Hollywood) featuring covers of Steve Miller's "Abracadabra" by Sugar Ray and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" by Uncle Kracker

Sheryl Crow - Come on, Come on (A&M) with guests Lenny Kravitz, Liz Phair, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Emmylou Harris, and Dixie Chick Natalie Maine

The Devlins - Consent (Nettwerk)

Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come (550/Epic)

Dirty Dirty - First Round Draft Picks (Loud)

Down - Down II (Elektra)

Drag the River - Closed (Upland) featuring Chad Price of ALL

Embrace - Fireworks: Singles 1997-2002 (Hut) import-only 13-track collection

Fine China - You Make Me Hate Music (Tooth & Nail)

Freestylers - Pressure Point (Hollywood) featuring vocalists Navigator and Tenor Fly

Funkmaster Flex - Pitbulls (Loud)

Hillbilly Idol - Hillbilly Idol (Slewfoot) debut from the Ohio-based and corn-fed quartet featuring covers of the Louvin Brothers' "She Didn't Even Know I Was Gone" and Tim O'Brien's "Late in the Day"

Illharmonics - Take Two (Uprok)

Frank Jordan - Enemies (Cornerstone) half studio, half live

Richard Kaufmann - Common Senses (Record Cellar) new solo effort from the Electric Love Muffin founder

Kelis - Wanderland (Virgin)

Kinky - Kinky (Nettwerk)

Len - Be Who We Be (Dreamworks)

Mobb Deep - Music from Murder Musik: The Movie (Loud)

Moodswings - Horizontal (Water Music) new two-CD set

Steve Morse Band - Split Decision (Magna Carta) new from the Dixie Dregs guitarist

Moth - Provisions, Fiction, & Gear (Virgin)

My Morning Jacket - Chocolate & Ice (Badman) highly anticipated new 35-minute EP from this roots psychedelic collective from Louisville, Kentucky

National Lampoon's Van Wilder - original motion picture soundtrack (Ultimatum/Artemis) featuring Sugarcult, The Living End, Jimmy Eat World, and American Hi-Fi

Porter Hall, TN - Welcome to Porter Hall, TN (Slewfoot)

Project Pat - Layin' the Smack Down (Loud) with guests from his Three 6 Mafia family and rhyming over music by Willie Hutch, Donny Hathaway, and Roberta Flack

The Scorpion King - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) with new music from Mushroomhead, System of a Down, Creed, P.O.D., and Nickelback

The Sleeping Flies - You Are Superior (Electronic Watusi Boogaloo/Kindercore) groovy swirling, peppy, boogie beats featured in Cingular cell phone ads, produced by Bill Doss of Olivia Tremor Control

Sparta - Austere (Dreamworks) four-track EP from former members of At the Drive-In

Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends (Victory) emo-punk from Long Island, New Jersey

Teenage Fanclub & Jad Fair - "Always in My Heart" (Alternative Tentacles) new seven-inch single

various artists - Classic Chillout (Epic) tranquil waves from Sade, Jill Scott, Moby, Massive Attack, Deep Forest, and Maxwell

various artists - Pledge of Allegiance (Columbia) live tracks from last year's tour featuring System of a Down, Mudvayne, Slipknot and American Head Charge

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher